Authored by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the message underscores the shared global responsibility to protect humanity from a repeat of the devastation seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed 20 million lives and wiped out $13 trillion in global economic output.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, hospitals were overwhelmed, families lost loved ones in isolation, and front-line health care workers endured unprecedented pressure. This collective trauma gave birth to a promise among nations: never again to face a pandemic without preparation, they write.
“An act of hope” in a divided world
More than a year ago, countries made significant progress by adopting the WHO Pandemic Accord, committing to cooperate more effectively to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics.
“In a divided world, this outcome should not be taken for granted,” the letter said. “It was an act of hope and an act of faith in each other. We write to you now because that hope has not yet been realized and because it is in your hands to help make it come true.”
The Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex, a key part of the deal, which remains incomplete, stands in the way, President Lula and Tedros wrote.
This framework is essential to enable countries to quickly identify and share genetic information about dangerous pathogens so that scientists can develop life-saving tests, treatments and vaccines.
Without the annex, the Pandemic Agreement cannot formally enter into force, leaving the promise unfulfilled, the joint message said.
Complex challenges remain
The challenges of finalizing the PABS Annex are complex, particularly around defining how the benefits of shared pathogens are equitably distributed and how governance ensures equity.
It is precisely these issues that were previously unresolved, which contributed to the protection gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Negotiators are expected to meet again July 6-17 to bridge these differences.
Three critical demands
The call highlights three crucial demands for world leaders:
- Political will at the highest level: Leaders must prioritize finalizing the annex and empower negotiators to seek bold consensus. The agreement does not compromise national sovereignty nor does it grant the WHO the power to impose measures such as lockdowns or compulsory vaccination. These decisions belong firmly to each nation.
- Spirit of fairness: The PABS system is based on equity. Those who rapidly share pathogens must be confident that resulting vaccines and treatments will also reach their populations, an approach recognizing that pandemic prevention is not charity but a sound strategy, reducing costs and lives lost by quickly containing outbreaks. Fair access must be ensured, ensuring clear and stable rules to replace the current case-by-case, crisis-driven process.
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A sense of urgency: Scientists estimate that there is almost a 25 percent chance that another pandemic will occur in the next decade. Changing environmental and social factors are creating new hotspots for disease emergence around the world, while advances in biotechnology increase the risks of accidental or intentional releases. The letter calls for July 17 to be considered a firm deadline for a deal, signaling global commitment and avoiding dangerous delays.
An elderly woman receives her third COVID-19 booster shot at a vaccination center in Lisbon, Portugal, 2024. (archive)
The next crucial chapter
Current outbreaks, such as Ebola in several countries without an approved vaccine, highlight continuing risks, they warned.
Reminding readers of the staggering human and economic toll of COVID-19, the letter says that in comparison, investing in early detection and response systems to outbreaks like the PABS framework is modest and essential.
Historically, the world has come together to save countless lives by defeating smallpox, pushing polio to the brink of eradication, and fighting HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
“The conclusion of this agreement does not constitute a break with that heritage,” the letter said. “It’s the natural next chapter, and it’s within our reach.”
Watch our explanatory video on the Pandemic Agreement:
